2024's Handy Headliner: The BAR-KAYS
It’s the Return of the Mack himself! Larry Dodson, the famous lead vocalist of the Bar-Kays is coming back to the Shoals and he’s bringing the world famous Bar-Kays with him! That’s right, Memphis will just have to miss them for a minute because the Bar-Kays are headlining the W.C. Handy Music Festival!
From Stax Records to stages worldwide, the Bar-Kays have kept us on the dance floor with songs like Shake Your Rump To The Funk, Hit and Run, Move Your Boogie Body, Holy Ghost, Sexomatic, Too Hot To Stop, Attitudes, She Talks To Me With Her Body, Freak Show on the Dance Floor (complete with a boa constrictor!), Son of Shaft, and Return of the Mack. They racked up twenty-three singles on the R&B charts in an eleven year span, and those were just some of their songs. They’ve had songs charting from the sixties up until today. Their music has been featured in movie soundtracks, sung and sampled by other artists, and can be heard on radio around the world.
Larry is also a solo artist, affectionately called “Uncle Larry”, and has made a name for himself in the southern soul genre. Don’t miss the chance to move your own boogie body because a Bar-Kays show with an opening by the Shoals area’s local star Lorinda “Pinky” Warren Pryor is just too hot to stop!
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA
Saturday July 27th 7pm
at UNA’s Norton Auditorium
$40.00 General Admission
$75 for VIP Seating and Reception
Tickets available at Counts Brothers Music, Ye Olde General Store, WZZA Radio, (and after July 14 at Handy Headquarters)
Click a flyer above for more information.
Concession Locations
Handy Headquarters
Southhall Moore House
215 East Tuscaloosa Street
Florence, AL
256-766-7642
Alabama Music Hall of Fame
617 US-72 W
Tuscumbia, AL 35674
256-381-4417
Operating Hours
Tue-Fri: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sat: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Sun: Closed
Coats Clothing Store
122 North Court Street
Florence, AL 35630
256-760-0033
Counts Brothers Music
713 Waverly Avenue
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
256-383-7454
Operating Hours
M-F: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Sat: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sun: Closed
Ye Olde General Store
219 N Seminary St.
Florence, AL 35630
256-764-0601
Operating Hours
Tue-Fri: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sat: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Sun: Closed
Handy on Facebook
Official W.C Handy Music Festival Opening Ceremony tonight at 6:30 pm. ![]()
Come inside to avoid the heat and possible rain at the Coach Harvest Mitchell Gymnasium (at Burrell Slater School) located at 610 College Street. ![]()
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There will be plenty of chairs, and food trucks on site. After a prayer by the Reverend Grandville Anderson, Pastor of the Greater St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church (where the Father of the Blues William Christopher Handy and his family attended services), we'll enjoy music by:![]()
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Trumpeteer Kimble Funchess![]()
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TheQuad Cities Mass Choir directed by Aaron Freeman![]()
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Two of WZZA Radio's own: the Reverend Shane Rainer and Fresh Wind and the Reverend Jerry Reeves, along with his Friends!![]()
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Sponsored By: City of Florence, Keep the Shoals Beautiful, Music Preservation Society, Inc.
The Singing River Jazz Band kicks off at 6 pm at Magnolia Church of Christ. Be entertained by music from the Count Basie Bigh Band, Maynard Ferguson Big Band, Ray Charles Big Band, Jaco Pastorius Big Band, and several cover tunes of current and past artists as well as Gospel Music.![]()
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Located at 2650 Vulcan Avenue in Florence.
Thanks for the Shout Out James Spann.Tonight’s kickoff of the WC Handy Music Festival in Downtown Florence... photo from Mark Holley
Happy Hours and Handy Nights. There are plenty of events and venues!![]()
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Handy Happy Hour at the Boiler Room![]()
Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 9:00 PM![]()
Location: Boiler Room, 313 N Court St, Florence, AL![]()
Featuring: Moore and Co.![]()
Sponsored By: The Boiler Room![]()
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Handy Happy Hour at FloBama![]()
Starts: 6:30 PM | Ends: 9:30 PM![]()
Location: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, AL![]()
Featuring: Howell Sledge & The Revue![]()
Sponsored By: FloBama![]()
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Handy Happy Hour at Lil Capone’s![]()
Starts: 6:30 PM | Ends: 9:30 PM![]()
Location: Lil Capone’s, 3370 Cloverdale Road, Florence, AL![]()
Featuring: Jessie Lee![]()
Sponsored By: Lil Capone's![]()
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Dinner and Allstar Jazz at Old Grace Church![]()
Starts: 6:30 PM![]()
Location: Old Grace Church, 700 N Montgomery Ave, Sheffield, AL![]()
6:30pm Doors open so come early and mix and mingle! 7:00pm Delicious dinner and excellent entertainment! Featuring Festival Favorites, the Handy Jazz Allstars including Robert Redd (keys) and Sue Matthews (vocals) with Jim Ferguson (bass), Tom Wolfe (guitar), Mel Deal (guitar), Mark Lanter (drums), and Gary Lamb (flute). Tickets are $30 each and include a buffet meal. There will be a $5 corking fee if you choose to bring your own wine. Advance tickets are available by calling 256-740-1383. ![]()
Featuring: Jazz Allstars![]()
Sponsored By: Vicki and Gary Dean![]()
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Handy Night at Champy’s World Famous Chicken![]()
Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 9:00 PM![]()
Location: Champy’s World Famous Chicken, 102 Second St., Sheffield, AL![]()
Music by Big Joe & The Catfish Junkies!![]()
Featuring: Big Joe & The Catfish Junkies![]()
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CB&S Bank: Music In The Park With Rewind![]()
Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM![]()
Location: Wilson Park, 350 North Wood Ave., Florence, AL![]()
Featuring: Rewind of the Shoals![]()
Sponsored By: CB&S Bank![]()
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Handy Night at Birdy’s![]()
Starts: 8:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM![]()
Location: Birdy’s Sports Grill, 400 W Avalon Ave Suite C, Muscle Shoals, AL![]()
Featuring: Rob Aldridge![]()
Sponsored By: Birdy's, Muscle Shoals![]()
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Handy Night at the Fizz![]()
Starts: 8:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM![]()
Location: Fizz Bar & Grill, Clarion Hotel 4900 Hatch Blvd., Sheffield, AL![]()
Featuring: Deja Vu![]()
Sponsored By: Fizz at the Clarion Hotel![]()
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Handy Night at Swampers![]()
Starts: 8:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM![]()
Location: Swampers Bar and Grille, Marriott Shoals, 10 Hightower Pl, Florence, AL![]()
Featuring: Kirkman Combo![]()
Sponsored By: Swampers at Marriott Shoals![]()
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Handy Night at the Lava Room![]()
Starts: 8:00 PM![]()
Location: Lava Room, 116 West Mobile Street, Florence, AL![]()
Featuring: Moon Tree, Jeff Woods![]()
Sponsored By: The Lava Room![]()
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Handy Night at the Boiler Room![]()
Starts: 9:00 PM | Ends: 12:00 AM![]()
Location: Boiler Room, 313 N Court St, Florence, AL![]()
Featuring: Caleb Storie![]()
Sponsored By: The Boiler Room, Florence![]()
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Handy Night at Kingpin’s![]()
Starts: 9:30 PM | Ends: 1:30 AM![]()
Location: Kingpin’s, 203 East 6th St. - Ste. B, Tuscumbia, AL![]()
Featuring: Jerome Parker & The Rubber Band![]()
Sponsored By: Kingpin's,Tuscumbia![]()
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Handy Night at FloBama![]()
Starts: 10:30 PM![]()
Location: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, AL![]()
Featuring: Carson Carlisle Band![]()
Sponsored By: FloBama
STREET PARTY TONIGHT 🎶![]()
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Happening at the 105 Poplar Street. Music starts at 6 in front of Soul Wingery and Records. Follow up an amazing night with Handy Street Party Gospel Brunch 11-2 on Sunday.
Sponsors
